AUSTIN – Today, Senate Bill 6, passed during the First Called Special Session of the 85th Texas Legislature, takes effect and prevents certain cities from forcibly annexing landowners without their consent. The new law requires cities in counties with a population of 500,000 or more to obtain consent via a public election on the question of annexation. For those affected by the bill, SB 6 effectively ends involuntary annexation. For those not directly affected by the bill, SB 6 allows for 10 percent of the registered voters of the county to petition the county commissioners court to hold an election seeking inclusion.
“Today starts a new era in city governance,” said James Quintero, who leads the Think Local Liberty project at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “For years, cities in Texas were allowed to forcibly annex landowners without their consent. That unfair practice allowed cities to enrich themselves while pushing higher taxes, tougher regulations, and more debt on those that never asked for it. But, for many Texans, those days are over.”
Quintero continued: “Texas’ new annexation law requires cities in large, urban area to hold an election before annexing landowners. That change means Texans are afforded a chance to participate in the democratic process and it effectively ends this brand of taxation without representation.”
For more information or to request an interview with Mr. Quintero, please contact Alicia Pierce at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.
James Quintero is director of the Center for Local Governance and leads the Think Local Liberty project at Texas Public Policy Foundation.
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